Fortune-telling apparatus



Patented Aug. 22, I899.

F. A. RICHTER. FORTUNE TELLING APPARATUS.

(Application filed July 6, 1897.]

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N0. 63I,672. Patented Aug. 22, I899. F. A. RICHTER.

FORTUNE TELLING APPARATUS. (Application filed July e, 1897.)

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Patented Aug. 22, I899. F. A. RICHTER.

FORTUNE TELLING APPARATUS.

(Application filed July 6, .1897.)

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FORTUNE TELLING APPARATUS.

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UNITED STATES.

PATENT Orrica.

FRIEDRICH ADOLF RICHTER, OF RUDOLSTADT, GERMANY.

FORTUNE-TELLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 631,672, dated August 22, 1899.

Application filed July 6, 1897. Serial No. 643,597. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that LFRIEDRICH ADOLF RICH- TER, of Rudolstadt, in the Principality of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, German Empire, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fortune Telling Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to fortune-tellin g and similar apparatus wherein upon the apparatus being set for a certain question by the user a suitable answer to such question is caused to appear.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which will'be simple in construction and which will at the same time operate satisfactorily in that appropriate answers will be given to the various questions asked and that the answers given in succession to one and the same question will vary each time, so that the same answer will not occur twice in succession.

To this end the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts more fully hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawings. v

The apparatus contains two circles or cir cular groups of questions and answers, (or corresponding figures or characters,) the said two circles or groups being directly or indirectly connected with each other in a manner to be more fully hereinafter described and v actuating mechanism'of the apparatus, hereexplained.

The apparatus is intended tooperate in this wise, that each time upon the one circle or group having been set for a certain question or character a different answer or character of the other circle or group-but always adapted to and befitting the respective question or character for which the first circle or group has been set-will appear or be indicated at an opening or window provided in the apparatus. This variety of indication is according to this present invention effected not by means of anycomplicated mechanism, but simply by so arranging the two circles or groups of questions and answers or other characters relatively to each other that the act itself of setting the one circle or group for a certain question or character will simultaneously cause the circle or group of answers to be shifted in such a manner as to thereby alone and without any auxiliary means whatkeep the opening or window for the answers covered by a movable plate and will remove such plate to uncover the respective answer only when a coin has been inserted in the apparatus. I

In the drawings illustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus, wherein the questions are imprinted 011 a stationary outerdisk or dial, whereas the inner disk or Wheel of the apparatus contains a number of groups of answers-that is to say, three groups of twelve answers each to the one group of twelve questions on the outer 'disk'or dial, this figure being on a smaller scale than the following views. Figs. 2 and 3 are a front and side elevation, respectively, of the inner mechanism with parts broken away. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are details to be described of the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 7 is an elevation showing the inafter described. Parts of this mechanism are broken away in this figure. Fig. 7 is a plan View of the fly-actuating mechanism. Fig. 8 is a detail to be described.

In the apparatus hereinafter described, and shown in the drawings, the answers, all differing from each other, are arranged in a circle of two or more groups, these being so adapted that each time when the respective disk or wheel which contains the said groups of answers is moved forward to such-an extent as will correspond with the value representing the length of a group adifferent answer will be given to one and'the same question, this occurring for such anumber of times lib as will correspond with the number of groups of answers. The circle of questions instead of being connected directly with the circle of answers may be connected with the latter indirectly by a train of wheels or other means for transmission of movement, the relative movements being in such case adapted in accordance with the ratio between the number of groups of answers and the number of groups of questions.

In the apparatus to be hereinafter described mechanism are provided which will automatically move the pointer or needle (or its equivalent) forward one step each time the apparatus is operated.

The axis rigidly connecting the pointer or needle 9 with the pinion Z is journaled in an opening provided in the arm 1', the latter being rigid on the stationary axis f. Mounted to oscillate on the same axis is the bell-crank t f, its lower arm i being bent so as to extend around the wheel a below and its other arm t carrying at its end the plate 7L. m and m are pinions mounted on a common axis, the one in front and the other in the rear of the wheel a. The front pinion m meshes with the pinion Z and the rear pinion 7n meshes with a pinion Z, the latter being rigid with a ratchet-wheel h. It will be seen from the above that the pinions Z, Z, m, and m and the ratchet-wheel It" will always rotate the one with the other and with the pointer or needle g. The numberof teeth on the ratchet-wheel It corresponds with the number of questions provided for.

The wheel a, having the answers imprinted thereon, is rigidly connected by a hub or collar with the pinions m and m, the ratio of transmission of movement between the pinions Z and Z on the one part and the pinions m and m on the other part being adapted in accordance with the ratio between the number of groups of questions and the number of groups of answers.

The actuating mechanism mounted in the lower part of the apparatus is as follows: a is a vertical shaft journaled in suitable bearings and carrying an upper cam-disk i and a lower cam-disk 1;. The said upper cam-disk t is formed as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and is provided with an extra cam portion 25', adapted to act on an extension .9 of a pawl s, which normally engages the pinion whereas the other cam portion of the said disk t acts on the lower arm 1) of a retaining-pawl 0, likewise normally in engagement with the said ratchet-wheel. The lower cam-disk "L, by means of a cam-groove provided therein, positively operates a lever :0, movably connected by a link with the lower arm t of the bellcrank lever i i. The vertical shaft u in the preferred construction of this mechanism as shown in Fig. 7 receives rotary movement from a spring inclosed in the stationary spring-box 1 and operating the vertical shaft 2, having the pinions 3 and 5 and the ratchetwhcel -l, the said movement being transmitted by the pinion 5 engaging the pinion G of the shaft 16. The pinion (3 also engages a pinion 7, and the latter, mounted on a common vertical shaft with the worm-wheel 7, rotates the worm S, Fig. '7, which is provided on the shaft of a fly 9. The latter, and with it the entire mechanism, is normally prevented from moving by a wire 11, which in the position shown in Fig. '7 extends into the line of movement of the wings of the fly. The said wire is secured to one end of a pivoted releasing-lever 7 the other end of the latter being arranged below the discharge end of the coin-duct 10, the inlet end of the said coin-duct being immediately below an opening or slot. (Not shown in the drawings.) Immediately above the pinion 6 on the vertical shaft u is secured a cam 2, having a gradually ascending and descending cam face, upon which the lowermost arm of the releasing-lever 1/ rests with a suitable lug or projection.

The operation of this apparatus is as follows: 15y rotating the pointer or needle g to the right the same is set opposite any desired question on the dial. The ratchet-wheel 7; is thereby rotated, the retaining-pawl 0 sliding over the teeth of tho ratchet-wheel, and the wheel a is in accordance with the ratio of transmission of movement rotated to such an extent that a proper answer adapted to the respective question will arrive behind the window or opening provided for the purpose. A coin having now been inserted, the actuating mechanism is started in the manner already described with reference to Figs. 7 and 7 of the drawings. The shaft u is thus rotated and with it the cam-disks t and '1). Above the latter is mounted the bell-crank lever 50, having its shorter arm bent downward, so as to project into a cam-groove of the disk r, and having the outer end of its other arm movably connected by a link j to the lower arm 1' of the bell-crank lever t' 1'. Since the disk o participates in the movement of the shaft u it will be seen that the lever in will during each rotation of the said shaft act to move the bell-crank lever t' t" laterally, so that the plate 72, forming the outer end of the lever-arm 6' will be removed from behind the opening .or window (3 and will allow the respective answer to be seen and read from without. At the same time the cam-disk Z will have assumed a position wherein it bears against the lower arm or extension 1) of the pawl 0, thereby firmly holding the latter in engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel 7t, thus preventing the pointeror needle g from being turned to the right during the rotary movement of the shaft 7t, whereas the turning of the same to the left is at the same time prevented by the engagement of the pawl s with the ratchet-wheel. Upon the shaft to having completed one rotation the releasing-lever y, one arm of which will in the meantime have been gradually lifted by the ascending portion of the cam .2", will when 'the said lever-arm again descends from the tension 19 of the retaining-pawl 0, so that the latter will not be restricted in its movements any more. At the same time the extra cam portion 1 of the disk 15, acting upon the lower arm or extension of the pawl s, will have moved the said pawl so as to rotate the ratchet-wheel to the extent of one tooth, thereby moving the pointer or needle g away from the question previously indicated. Thus if it should be intended to again set the pointer or needle for the same question it will have to be moved completely around. It will be seen that this arrangement prevents the same answer being given to one question a number of times in succession.

It is obvious that instead of a movable pointer or needle g and a stationary plate or dial for the questions being provided this arrangement may be reversed by mounting the plate or dial rotatable relatively to a fixed arrow or other suitable mark, the latter in this case being substituted for the movable pointer or needle. I also wish it to be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to the exact details of construction or arrangement described and shown, as these admit of various modifications and variations within the scope of this invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is 1. A fortune-telling apparatus comprising a dial having a series of questions arranged thereon, a rotatable disk having a number of groups of answers arranged thereon, the number of answers in each group corresponding to the number of questions on the dial, and each answer in each group being appropriate to a given question on the dial, but the cor-v responding answers in the several groups to the same question differing from each other, a pointer mounted relative to said dial'and adapted to be turned or moved to indicate a question thereon and gearing operatively connecting said pointer and disk, whereby the movement of said pointer once around said dial will cause the disk to rotate a distance equal to the space occupied by one group of answers, substantially as described.

2. In a fortune-telling apparatus, the combination of a casing, an outer plate or dial having a number of questions imprinted thereon, a disk or wheel rotatably mounted within said casing and having a multiplenumber of groups of answers imprinted thereon, the number of answers in each group corresponding with the total number of questions on the said outer plate or dial, a window or opening in the said casing ar ranged in the line of movement of the answers on the said rotatable disk or wheel and allowing one answer at a time to be seen therethrough, a movable part normally covering from view the answer behind the window or opening, a pointer or needle adapted to be rotated over the questions on the said outer; plate or dial, means for so transmitting rotary movement from the said pointer or needle to the said disk or wheel that for eachcomplete rotation of the said pointer or needle 7 the said disk or wheel will be rotated to the extent of one group of answers, and coin-actuated mechanism for automatically removing the said part from behind the said win dow or opening, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a fortune-telling apparatus, the combination of a casing having an opening for the insertion of coins, a surface having a number of questions imprinted thereon and another surface having a multiple number of groups of answers imprinted thereon, the number of answers in each group corresponding with the total number of questions, means for producing relative movement of the one surface with regard to the other, proportionate in extent to the relative numbers of questions and answers, as described, a window or opening in the said casing arranged in the line of movement of the answers on the one surface and allowing one answer at a time to be seen therethrough, a movable part normally covering from view the answer behind the said window or opening, and coin-actuated mechanism for automatically removing the said part from behind the said window or opening, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a fortune-telling apparatus, the combination of a casing, a surface having a number of questions imprinted thereon and another surface having a multiple number of groups of answers imprinted thereon, the number of answers in each group corresponding with the total number of questions,means for producing relative movement of the one surface with regard to the other, proportionate in extent to the relative numbers of questions and answers, as described, an indicating device for determining the extent of the movement, a window or opening in the said casing arranged in the line of movement of the answers on the one surface and allowing one answer at a time to be seen therethrough, a movable part normally covering from View the answer behind the said window or opening, mechanism for automatically removing the said part from behind the said window or opening and means, operated from the said mechanism, for automatically altering the position of the indicating device relatively to the surface having the questions thereon, or

IIO

.vice versa, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a fortune-telling apparatus, the combination with a dial having a series of questions thereon, of a rotatable disk having groups of answers arranged thereon in the manner described,a easing inclosing said disk and having an opening fordisplaying the answers singly, a pointer mounted relative to said dial and adapted to be moved to indicate a question thereon, gearing operatively connecting said pointer and disk whereby the movement of the pointer to a given question will cause the disk to be rotated to display an appropriate answer, a gear-wheel in mesh with said gearing and carrying a ratchetwheel, a crank-arm carrying a pawl engaging said ratchet, a shaft, a motor adapted to re FRIEDRICH ADOLF RICHTER.

Witnesses:

II. E. Scanner, Bonner R. Scanner. 

